On Monday 28 March 2016, a roundtable with Syrian Civil Society organisations hosted by No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) from 26-28 March concluded with a public event in Gaziantep at which participants presented their recommendations to the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC). Following formal receipt of the recommendations by a representative of the SOC, there was a discussion on the recommendations and the issues they raise by roundtable participants and those present at the public event.

The roundtable follows on from a workshop NPWJ held in February that looked at promoting accountability through UN Mechanisms, as well as focusing more specifically on SGBV, Women and Children. NPWJ worked with six Syrian civil society representatives to present their experiences and recommendations to a larger group of Syrian civil society organisations, who discussed, refined and finalized the recommendations through a participatory process.

The recommendations that emerged are directed to those involved in the negotiations and the constitutional process and other relevant actors. They cover what action is needed now and what is needed during and after the transition process. They call for consultation with all segments of Syrian society.

Background
NPWJ has supported the Syrian civil society since the inception of the Syrian crisis and, since October 2013, has established an office in Gaziantep, Turkey, from where it conducts its Syria-related activities by empowering and increasing the capacity of Syrian CSOs and democratic activists to act and advocate for transitional justice and accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.